Amid the controversy over the portrayal of women in films sparked by the ‘Peddi’ controversy, veteran actress Madhu has candidly admitted that her 1991 blockbuster film ‘Phool Aur Kaante’ glorified Eve’s sensuality.
She even acknowledged the fact that the same content, if released today, would be socially and legally unacceptable.
Madhoo reflects on the rape scenes and the audience’s changing emotions
Speaking to IANS, Madhoo gave a candid look at how cinematic norms have radically changed. “In the past, rape scenes were accepted very easily, which is why they were included in almost every film. No questions were asked about them. In fact, Ranjit sir was referred to as a ‘rape specialist,'” she said.
Such scenes will be depicted with tension, struggle and assault. I also participated in one of these scenes.
“Noticed the contrast with today’s landscape. The actress added: “Today, rape scenes are rarely shown in films. And even when they are, they are presented very subtly.”In the same conversation, the actress was equally candid about her breakthrough success, admitting that the film’s depiction of harassment as flirtation wouldn’t survive scrutiny today.
She shared, “In the song Phool Aur Kaante, the first two songs were just eve teasing. The boys are chasing around the campus and whistling, and I look at it as romantic, and we all looked at it as romantic. I fell in love with the boy who teases me and teases me.”
Today, she will call him and put him behind bars. If a guy today stalks you in college and campus and does all this, he won’t be accepted.”
Madhu says cinema reflects society
Madhu clearly distinguished between what was celebrated then and what is expected now.
She stated: “So, today, you can’t even show that in a movie, because if you show that in a movie and we start liking it as an audience, that might give subtle permission to young people that they can do that. But, you can’t do that, that’s not romance, that’s not love, that’s eve teasing, that’s harassment. But the same thing became the biggest hit of the ’90s, and I’m part of that hit.”
But it wasn’t trolled, it was just a big hit.”She concluded on a broader note about the relationship between cinema and society, saying: “So, what I’m trying to say is that our cinema reflects our society. As society changes, as the conversation changes, film has to reflect that.”
“Bidi” controversy.
The makers of Peddi, starring Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor, recently faced widespread criticism over what many viewers saw as a miscarriage of Janhvi Kapoor’s character. The backlash has sparked a broader discussion about how Indian cinema has historically treated women.The film was released in theaters on June 4, 2026.